Do I really need expensive skincare?

[GreatEelRun]

I have been using a skincare range for the past 4 years. It is one that goes up in gradients for Vitamin A. It has been quite good. I have always taken care of my skin from an early age, using different products. I used to have quite sensitive skin, but I think this has improved with age.

I just replaced a couple of the items I use and it came to over £200!!!!

Now the skincare is good, but it hasn't significantly changed my life or made me look loads younger. It has done an alright job.

I'm in 2 minds whether or not to jump ship when I have used this up. If I calculate what I will be spending (goes up as the levels of Vit A increase) I think it will be about £700 a year.

I think I have good skin, and I think it has made a bit of difference, but I don't think £700 difference.

I'm 45 and have never used any skincare other than a boots moisturiser once a day. My skin is smooth and not wrinkled at all.

It depends on what the ingredients are - plenty of lower priced items (from The Ordinary for example) can be just as effective as the higher priced items. What do you currently use, and what do you want from your skincare?

In my 30s here. I used to use fancy stuff in my 20s but it cost me a fortune and never made me look or feel that different.

I use a basic cleanser twice a day with moisturiser and seem to get less hassle with my skin now than ever before.

If expensive products worked, there would be no one getting fillers/Botox/threads/face lifts and many rich&famous folks buy the dear stuff.. before getting all of the above.

I use simple facial wash followed by Aveeno non scented moisturiser.
All products have only a temporary effect..all they do is coat your skin and smell nice.

Don't know about the 'vitamins', but best eaten than smeared on top, in my opinion 🤔

I have good skin and look a lot younger than my age -mid 50s. I use Nivea and sunscreen.

I tend to only splash out on serums. I use
basic cleanser and moisturizer.

I think it's all a huge con to be honest. I got interested in skincare over lockdown and established a full on routine. Beginning of this year I looked worse, if anything. Stopped using all of it other than a cheap moisturiser I picked up in Boots for about £3. My skin looks and feels so much better! I think most of those products just needlessly clog you up. I certainly won't be buying into it all again!

Vitamin A is also known as retinol, so if you know what % you are using, search for that concentration is cheaper products. For other cheaper skincare, I would recommend brands like the inkey list or the ordinary. Boots sells those online, as well as loads of other brands, so I would say it’s an easy place to start looking.

It doesn’t need to be expensive, just effective. Brands like the ordinary, inkey list, Q&A are great as are own brands ranges at Aldi and Superdrug. Beauty pie is a good way to get luxury products at a lower price.

Please don’t hate me - I got asked for ID buying booze a few months ago. I’m 50.. I don’t use expensive stuff unless it’s a gift (DM sometimes buys me Clarins). I think it’s 50% genes, 30% sunscreen and 20% regular skincare.

I use lacura caviar from Aldi. £6.99 a pop. I've tried more expensive brands but kept coming back to this. I think tests have said it's comparable to la mer which is extortionatel

I think expensive moisturisers are a con, 100%.

I do dabble in retinol, but you can get that quite cheap. There's The Ordinary and The Inkey List for a start. I use the No7 one as I got a 3 for 2 and I like that it's more moisturising than most so you can use it on its own at night without feeling tight.

But everything else? Go cheap all the way.

I really really rate CaraVe. My go-to moisturiser is the one in the big blue tub, it's even better than Nivea Soft imo. Probably the best moisturiser I've ever used and lasts forever.

And then they have a Smoothing range which is amazing. The body lotion makes your arms and legs as smooth as glass.

My skin has never been better than when I've used the Aldi Lacura q10 range (day and night creams), and the Lacura creamy face wash. All comes to under a tenner.

I’m 48 and I have great skin. I don’t know how much this is down to luck/genetics/diet. I use the oil cleansing method ( castor oil and veg oil mix) which costs maybe £3 a year and I always wear factor 50 between about April and September. I spend quite a lot of time outdoors and I really don’t want a sun damaged face. I have an 85 yo friend with the best skin I’ve ever seen (and I’ve met the queen) and she’s a religious sister. I know for a fact she’s never used a skin product in her life. I think sun protection and not smoking is a much bigger factor than using a £40 moisturiser over a £5 one.

I’ll check the strength of the Vit A but after 4 years I think I’m on the strongest of the range. I’ve noticed that my cheeks have gone red and a bit patchy so maybe it’s too strong.

I defo think I’m going to drop it as it’s too expensive. Also my skin loves oil so anything I massage in like Decleor Neroli or Clarins Blue Orchid, it loves. My skin also loves loves loves Body Shop Vit E cream.

I have been sucked in.

This is my last splurge area which I need to reign in. Perhaps we need a show called Shop Beauty Wisely.

I do my own mani/ pedis, own IPL, own facials and own hair treatments. Just skin left to reign in.

@Phyllis321

Please don’t hate me - I got asked for ID buying booze a few months ago. I’m 50.. I don’t use expensive stuff unless it’s a gift (DM sometimes buys me Clarins). I think it’s 50% genes, 30% sunscreen and 20% regular skincare.

This is me too- although slightly younger. I am very fair so always use a daily suncream even in winter I use body shop and a cleansing oil off Amazon. Probably 50 quid tops. Better use of money is decent make up imho

I think the only thing that you put on your skin that makes a difference is sun cream. The rest is genes and lifestyle - no smoking, good diet, drink lots of water...

My skins in the best condition it's ever been in and I've gone basic and budget. I use Vit E cleanser from Superdrug and the Aldi Q10 serum in the morning and their caviar creme at night. I don't even use foundation any more.

For £700 a year you could see a private dermatologist twice and have a good amount left over to buy the prescriptions/products they suggest much less trial and error needed!

I agree the Lacura stuff is absolutely fantastic. I now use the cleansing balm, marine algae hot cloth cleanser, various toners, rose oil, moisture surge dupe and H2O overnight mask. Probably others but those are the ones I bulk repeat buy. My skin feels better for having a nice routine (I'm more bothered about how it feels than how it looks) but I wouldn't say it's a massive expense. I always have a giant pot of Nivea soft on the go. Just waiting for Aldi to bring out a Clarins double serum dupe...

@GreatEelRun If you haven't already tried the Aldi rose oil you must give it a go next time it's in one of their beauty special buy events. I opened an Aldi rose oil after finishing an Elemis one and honestly they are the same. Aside from the £50 price difference! I have a blue orchid on the go too but I have to say I find myself reaching for the Aldi one more often!

I’ve used Liz Earle for many years - not the cheapest or most expensive - but whenever I change it I realise that my skin likes it, so I’m sticking with it.

The short answer is no, not if you don't feel it's value for money.

The longer answer... With expensive moisturisers, you are paying as much for the packaging, the fragrance, the celebrity in the ad etc. than the ingredients.
There are some brands (Skinceuticals) that have put a lot of money into research over the years, but they are pricey, presumably to recoup that cost. Their Vitamin C serum is the one that other brands have tried to copy because it's so good.

Prescription strength retinols have clinical research behind them to show that they are effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but you don't need use the highest strength to get good results. You're better off sticking with a lower strength that doesn't irritate. Consistent use over time is better IMO. That and using sunscreen daily will do plenty.

I always have to laugh at the people who come on threads like this and claim to just spit on a tissue, rub in on their face and have no wrinkles at 60 . They're either lying or deluding themselves (funnily enough they never post a photo).
Certain ethnicities have skin that appears to age slower etc. but most of us will have some wrinkles, even dynamic ones like around our eyes when we smile by the time we are 40, and need a bit of help.

You absolutely do NOT need to use expensive skincare most of it is a marketing con .

Sunscreen & prescription retinoid is the best thing you can use .

Get a sunscreen ... altruist £5
Basic cleanser ... Cerave £10 for huge bottle which lasts around 6-8 months +
Prescription Tretinoin from Dermatica . Costs me 20 for 8 weeks as I delay the subscription
Moisturizer - £6 aveeno lasts months
Superdrug pure serum £3
Vaseline £2 lasts months

I have been through the absolute phases of £0000 skincare routines , treatments . Half of it is total nonsense .

Now I just trust my derm Dr Natalia Spierings.

Just get a Tretinoin prescription for £20 and a decent but cheapish moisturiser, eg cerave.